All posts tagged: Salman Nizar

Reflections of 2025: A hit on a helmet to the rescue, frailty of Bazball exposed, Virat Kohli’s tears of joy | Cricket News

Reflections of 2025: A hit on a helmet to the rescue, frailty of Bazball exposed, Virat Kohli’s tears of joy | Cricket News

When Harmanpreet Kaur completed the catch to dismiss Nadine de Klerk off Deepti Sharma, it felt like time briefly stopped. For everyone watching the moment live from the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, it was surreal. For a split second, the entire crowd seemed frozen. Then came the realisation and an outburst of emotion. “A victory that will ignite a nation,” beamed Ian Bishop on the broadcast. India winning the trophy, especially after three losses earlier in the tournament, is a moment that will be etched in memories. The celebrations that followed were even more special. Pratika Rawal, who had a heartbreaking injury and made way for Shafali Verma, joined her teammates in a wheelchair, even gingerly standing up on one leg to do a jig. Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami got to lift the trophy, one that eluded them on two previous occasions. Anjum Chopra, Diana Edulji and many other former cricketers were present to soak it all in. The players who walked so that Harmanpreet and Co could leap. Bazball busted If …

Rohan Kunnummal century powers Kerala win over Oman in first 50-over game of Muscat tour | Cricket News

Rohan Kunnummal century powers Kerala win over Oman in first 50-over game of Muscat tour | Cricket News

The Kerala cricket team began its Oman tour on a winning note at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat on Monday.  The visiting Kerala side led by Mohammed Azharudden recorded a four-wicket win over the Oman Chariman’s XI side in a high-scoring match. Batting first, the Oman Chairman’s XI scored 326 runs in 50 overs on the back of a strong start laid out by captain Jatinder Singh and fellow opener Aamir Kaleem. In reply, Kerala reached the target with five balls to spare after the chase was anchored by a quick-fire century from opener Rohan Kunnummal and backed up by half-centuries from Salman Nizar and Shoun Roger.    While Kunnummal went blazing with 12 fours and four maximums, Nizar racked up 87 off 91 balls, continuing his splendid from the 2024-25 domestic season where he emerged as one of Kerala’s highest run-scorers in the Ranji Trophy during the run to their maiden final. After Roger chipped in with a 56 off 48 balls, the finishing touches were put up by Akshay Manohar’s unbeaten …

Kerala cricket team to face Oman national side in five One-Day games, Azharuddeen named captain | Cricket News

Kerala cricket team to face Oman national side in five One-Day games, Azharuddeen named captain | Cricket News

After a fruitful 2024-25 domestic season where they featured in their maiden Ranji Trophy final, the Kerala cricket team will begin their preparatory leg for the forthcoming season with an overseas tour to Oman to take on the ICC-ranked national team. The Kerala Cricket Association on Wednesday announced a 16-member side that will feature in the practice matches in Oman. The team will take on the national team in five 50-over matches. In the absence of Sanju Samson and Sachin Baby due to their IPL commitments with the Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Azharuddeen was named the skipper of the Kerala team after his prolific Ranji Trophy season. Ranji Trophy performers Salman Nizar, Nidheesh MD, Basil NP, Ahmed Imran and Eden Apple Tom were also included in the side, besides a host of fresh faces.Azharuddeen had finished on top of the Ranji Trophy run-getters list for Kerala as they fell before Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy final last month. While Azharuddeen amassed 635 runs, Nizar finished a close second with 628 runs. …

Ranji Trophy: Tireless Harsh Dubey gains Vidarbha the advantage despite not underestimating Kerala’s comeback tendencies | Cricket News

Ranji Trophy: Tireless Harsh Dubey gains Vidarbha the advantage despite not underestimating Kerala’s comeback tendencies | Cricket News

The groundsmen lingered near the pitch until Jamtha turned eerily dark and before the swarm of bats flew out from their hideouts under the floodlights. The long-toothed brooms whipped up clouds of dust from the weary surface, before the staff flattened the roughs with large, green hammers. Beyond the boundary ropes, on the linear balcony with wood-panelled walls, Vidarbha’s players were chit-chatting and giggling. The opposite end was empty, the Kerala contingent had left in a hurry, leaving just a trail of empty water bottles, torn sheets of paper and perhaps broken shards of their dreams. The mood of the two sides could not have been starker when the third day ended. Vidarbha were jubilant and relaxed. They might not be underestimating Kerala’s comeback tendencies, there could be more devious twists, yet the joy born out of Kerala’s flaky collapse, was irresistible for them to hide. Harsh Dubey, who became the highest wicket-taker in a single Ranji season, reveals as much: “We definitely have a massive advantage, a lead of 37 runs, and they have …

Ranji Trophy final: Why Vidarbha is not taking Kerala lightly | Cricket News

Ranji Trophy final: Why Vidarbha is not taking Kerala lightly | Cricket News

In the hidden nodes of Sachin Baby’s memory the sullen afternoon in Wayanad six seasons ago lurks. He stiffly denies lingering pieces of the semifinal heartbreak that Vidarbha inflicted on Kerala, watched on by the forested hills. “I have buried the memories of the game a long time ago,” he tells The Indian Express. But like hard-to-forget tragedies, the game remains vivid in his consciousness, the details emerging organically when he dwells on the final that unfolds from Wednesday at the Jamtha Stadium. Like he says, “This Vidarbha is vastly different from that Vidarbha.” Then he goes on describing the mastery of Umesh Yadav, who blew “stronger than the winds on that day.” Or when he insists on “not committing silly errors,” and draws a parallel with “the run out that ended his second innings.” The Kerala captain mumbles “misjudgment” twice. 9⃣ matches8⃣ wins1⃣ draw (With first innings lead) Vidarbha have been dominant this season, showcasing top-class cricket 💪 Here’s how they reached their 4⃣th #RanjiTrophy Final 👌👌#RoadToFinal pic.twitter.com/gthX0eq9KQ — BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 25, …

Watch: How a rule change after Philip Hughes death led to bizarre dismissal that gave Kerala vital two-run lead in Ranji semifinal against Gujarat | Cricket News

Watch: How a rule change after Philip Hughes death led to bizarre dismissal that gave Kerala vital two-run lead in Ranji semifinal against Gujarat | Cricket News

On Friday, with Ranji Trophy final qualification within reach, Gujarat’s No. 10 batsman, Arzan Nagwaswalla, played a powerful slog-sweep. The ball ricocheted off the helmet of Salman Nizar at silly point and then landed safely in the hands of captain Sachin Baby at first slip, virtually putting Kerala into the final on the fifth morning of their semifinal clash in Ahmedabad. With only 28 runs and three wickets remaining, Kerala’s trusted players, Jalaj Saxena and Aditya Sarvate, stepped up to propel their adopted state team toward their first Ranji Trophy final in 74 years since the side first appeared in the prestigious tournament in 1951-52. 1 In reply to Kerala’s 457, Gujarat were bowled out for 455 runs. 1⃣ wicket in hand 2⃣ runs to equal scores 3⃣ runs to secure a crucial First-Innings Lead Joy. Despair. Emotions. Absolute Drama! 😮 Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/kisimA9o9w#RanjiTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank | #GUJvKER | #SF1 pic.twitter.com/LgTkVfRH7q — BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 21, 2025 The bizarre dismissal helped Kerala secure their place in the final for the first time in their …

Ranji Trophy: Md Azharuddeen prolongs Gujarat’s agony with a leisurely 149* as Kerala aim for 500 | Cricket News

Ranji Trophy: Md Azharuddeen prolongs Gujarat’s agony with a leisurely 149* as Kerala aim for 500 | Cricket News

Even as the hapless Gujarat fielders dished out colourful conversations to try and break Kerala’s resolve during another day of marathon batting, the two most happening addas of the day took place inside the restaurant hall of the Narendra Modi Stadium post-play in the evening. Kerala coach Amay Khurasiya enquired about the formulating powdery patch outside the left-hander’s off-stump at one end with his trusted spin lieutenant Aditya Sarwate who had helped centurion Mohammed Azharuddeen to see off the day as Kerala added 212 runs to their overnight score with negligible shift in scoring intent. The idea of ‘time and turn’ dominated the discussion as Kerala extended the slow-cooking process to 177 overs, entering stumps at 418 for seven. The coach’s words to Sarwate revolved around the shaky patch, which would in due course, become vital to Kerala’s bowling plans led by the left-armer and off-spinner Jalaj Saxena against a Gujarat line-up crammed by four southpaws in the top order. Story continues below this ad While Khurasiya and Sarwate exchanged plans in one corner, Kerala …

How Kerala pair Salman Nizar and Mohammed Azharuddeen repelled J&K fight to nick side into semifinals | Cricket News

How Kerala pair Salman Nizar and Mohammed Azharuddeen repelled J&K fight to nick side into semifinals | Cricket News

At one point, Jammu & Kashmir deployed six close-in fielders including the wicket keeper to crowd, converge on and cackle off two of Kerala’s quietest batsmen, into submission, while snapping sharp catches that brought four quick wickets. There was even a backward short leg, lingering in the batsman’s peripheral vicinity, and hissing away sweet inanities into the ears of Kerala’s flank defenders, Nos 7 and 8, Salman Nizar and Mohammed Azharuddeen At 180/6, with a good part of two sessions left, Kerala were not even pretending to go for the 399 target J&K set them, clear that they would rub in the one-run first innings lead into the opponents’ faces the whole day. But defending 90 overs for a draw is an art. Nizar and Azhar did just that, to put Kerala into their second-ever Ranji semifinals. They would like nothing more than to beat Gujarat at home in Ahmedabad and take a shot at, possibly, Vidarbha. who beat them in the 2018 semis, should Mumbai be tamed at Nagpur in the other last-four encounter. …

Ranji Trophy: An India call is not expected, but Jalaj Saxena continues all-round shows to keep Kerala afloat vs J&K | Cricket News

Ranji Trophy: An India call is not expected, but Jalaj Saxena continues all-round shows to keep Kerala afloat vs J&K | Cricket News

Jalaj Saxena is 38 and he chuckles that he “doesn’t really expect the phone to ring tomorrow.” That is cricket-speak for getting picked to play for India, and the selectors calling up with the news. It’s just that instead of staring at the phone waiting eternally for it to ring, he decided to go hammer and tongs against the run of play, and keep reminding the young ‘uns that a Ranji Trophy quarterfinal is five days long. He is not filmy enough to say, ‘Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost.’ But for 78 balls, he kept punching holes in a pretty sturdy J&K bowling unit, almost teasing them for not managing to tame an old ‘un like him. His 67 had six fours and three sixes, looking utterly unbothered by cloying pace or taunting spin. “It’s an unrealistic dream (being picked for India),” but what’s left if you stop dreaming, he says. So, might as well keep putting himself out there, and reminding selectors of what they are overlooking. Story continues below this ad Saxena’s …